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Multiform NiO nanowalls with a high specific surface area were constructed in situ on carbon foam (CF) to construct NiO@CF/OD composite phase change materials (CPCMs). The synthesis mechanism, microstructures, thermal management capability, and photothermal conversion of NiO@CF/OD CPCMs were systematically studied. Additionally, the collaborative enhancement effects of CF and multiform NiO nanowalls on the thermal properties of OD PCMs were also investigated. NiO@CF not only maintains the porous 3D network structure of CF, but also effectively prevents the aggregation of NiO nanosheets. The chemical structures of NiO@CF/OD CPCMs were analyzed using XRD and FTIR spectroscopy. When combined with CF and NiO nanosheets, OD has high compatibility with NiO@CF. The thermal conductivity of NiO@CF/OD-L CPCMs was 1.12 W/m·K, which is 366.7% higher than that of OD. The improvement in thermal conductivity of CPCMs was theoretically analyzed according to the Debye model. NiO@CF/OD-L CPCMs have a photothermal conversion efficiency up to 77.6%. This article provided a theoretical basis for the optimal design and performance prediction of thermal storage materials and systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing materials for efficient energy storage and effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is crucial in modern technology. This study explores the synthesis and characterization of carbonaceous shape-stabilized octadecane/MWCNT (multi-walled carbon nanotube) composites, utilizing activated carbon, expanded graphite or ceramic carbon foam, as shape stabilizers for phase change materials (PCMs) to enhance thermal energy storage and EMI shielding, for energy-efficient and advanced applications. The integration of octadecane, a phase change material (PCM) with carbonaceous stabilizers ensures the material's stability during phase transitions, while MWCNTs contribute to improved thermal storage properties and EMI shielding capabilities. The research aims to develop novel composites with dual functionality for thermal storage and EMI shielding, emphasizing the role of carbon matrices and their MWCNT composites. SEM and CT microtomography analyses reveal variations in MWCNT incorporation across the matrices, influenced by surface properties and porosity. Leaching tests, infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirm the composite's stability and high latent heat storage. The presence of nanotubes enhances the thermal properties of octadecane and ΔH values almost reached their theoretical values. EMI shielding effectiveness measurements indicate that the composites show improved electric properties in the presence of MWCNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon aerogels represent a distinctive category of high surface area materials derived from sol-gel chemistry. Functionalizing these aerogels has led to the development of composite aerogels with the potential for a wider range of applications. In this study, the technique of lyophilization was employed to fabricate aerogel composites consisting of inorganic salts and cellulosic fibers. Cellulose carbonization can occur through chemical dehydration by heat treatment in an inert atmosphere. X-ray diffraction analysis spectra and scanning electron microscopy images indicate that the formed polymeric composites contain partially carbonized cellulose fibers, amorphous carbon, and calcium carbonates. CaCO3 primarily forms through the reaction of CaCl2, which moistens cellulose or amorphous carbon fibers with CO2 in ammonia fumes. The water loss in 3D structures was analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared spectroscopy. Depending on the synthesis method, 3D structures can be created from partially or completely dehydrated cellulose fibers. The aerogels were examined for their ability to support the growth of bacterial biofilm and then adorned with metal silver and AgCl to produce bactericidal products. Due to their open pores and CaCO3 content, these aerogels can serve as durable and environmentally friendly thermal insulators with bactericidal properties, as well as a medium for absorbing acidic gases.

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Carbon foam is a material with wide application, whereas it is still a challenge whether the catalytic graphitization process of carbon foam can enhance the performance of the final carbon foam material while reducing energy consumption. In this study, a comparative evaluation was performed on the catalytic effects of nickel, iron, and boron catalysts on the graphitization of carbon foam. Subsequently, the influence of different catalyst loading levels and graphitization temperatures on the thermal conductivity of graphitized carbon foam was investigated. The carbon foam materials were analyzed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, while their thermal conductivity properties were characterized using a thermal conductivity meter. The oil yield from the pyrolysis of rich oil shale was also used to evaluate the thermal performance of carbon foam materials. The results revealed that, compared to Fe and Be, Ni was found to be more suitable for graphitization among the tested catalysts. Furthermore, the optimal conditions for achieving the best graphitization effect on carbon foam material were determined to be a nickel nitrate (Ni(NO3)2·6H2O) concentration of 2 mol/L and a graphitization temperature of 1000 °C. The thermal conductivity of the graphitized carbon foam material prepared under this condition was increased by 25.3% from 0.2016 W·m−1·K−1 to 0.2526 W·m−1·K−1, and the tar yield was increased by 46.4% when it was applied to oil-rich coal pyrolysis. This preparation process not only saves energy but also yields graphitized carbon materials with excellent thermal conductivity, holding promising prospects for a wide range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon aerogels represent a distinctive category of high surface area materials derived from sol-gel chemistry. Functionalizing these aerogels has led to the development of composite aerogels with the potential for a wider range of applications. In this study, the technique of lyophilization was employed to fabricate aerogel composites consisting of inorganic salts and cellulosic fibers. Cellulose carbonization can occur through chemical dehydration by heat treatment in an inert atmosphere. X-ray diffraction analysis spectra and scanning electron microscopy images indicate that the formed polymeric composites contain partially carbonized cellulose fibers, amorphous carbon, and calcium carbonates. CaCO3 primarily forms through the reaction of CaCl2, which moistens cellulose or amorphous carbon fibers with CO2 in ammonia fumes. The water loss in 3D structures was analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared spectroscopy. Depending on the synthesis method, 3D structures can be created from partially or completely dehydrated cellulose fibers. The aerogels were examined for their ability to support the growth of bacterial biofilm and then adorned with metal silver and AgCl to produce bactericidal products. Due to their open pores and CaCO3 content, these aerogels can serve as durable and environmentally friendly thermal insulators with bactericidal properties, as well as a medium for absorbing acidic gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of science and technology, multifunctional wearable devices have become a major trend in medical field. There is an urgent need to fabricate multifunctional materials with thermal insulation, mechanical flexibility, piezoresistance, and adjustable heating behavior to cope with the thermal management and health monitoring of human body in the harsh environment. To address this issue, three-dimensional melamine-based carbon foams (CMF) have been developed, with sericin-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and in situ-grown carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in the CMF skeleton. The strategy of hierarchical porous micro-nanostructure enhanced the synergistic effect between CNTs and CNFs, resulting in exceptional resilience at 0–80 % compressive strain and cyclic stability at 20 % strain. Such carbon foam composites demonstrated excellent piezoresistive sensing performance, wide pressure range (0–20 kPa), high sensitivity (S = 0.11 kPa−1), and quick response (response/recovery time of 150/120 ms). They also showed good thermal insulation and Joule heating properties, particularly in presenting strain-dependent Joule heating mode at low voltage. Such amazing characteristics provide inspiration for temperature regulation of flexible, energy-efficient heating devices, and make them promising for smart sportswear, human-machine interfaces, and wearable medical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing materials for efficient energy storage and effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is crucial in modern technology. This study explores the synthesis and characterization of carbonaceous shape-stabilized octadecane/MWCNT (multi-walled carbon nanotube) composites, utilizing activated carbon, expanded graphite or ceramic carbon foam, as shape stabilizers for phase change materials (PCMs) to enhance thermal energy storage and EMI shielding, for energy-efficient and advanced applications. The integration of octadecane, a phase change material (PCM) with carbonaceous stabilizers ensures the material’s stability during phase transitions, while MWCNTs contribute to improved thermal storage properties and EMI shielding capabilities. The research aims to develop novel composites with dual functionality for thermal storage and EMI shielding, emphasizing the role of carbon matrices and their MWCNT composites. SEM and CT microtomography analyses reveal variations in MWCNT incorporation across the matrices, influenced by surface properties and porosity. Leaching tests, infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirm the composite’s stability and high latent heat storage. The presence of nanotubes enhances the thermal properties of octadecane and ΔH values almost reached their theoretical values. EMI shielding effectiveness measurements indicate that the composites show improved electric properties in the presence of MWCNTs.

Multiform NiO nanowalls with a high specific surface area were constructed in situ on carbon foam (CF) to construct NiO@CF/OD composite phase change materials (CPCMs). The synthesis mechanism, microstructures, thermal management capability, and photothermal conversion of NiO@CF/OD CPCMs were systematically studied. Additionally, the collaborative enhancement effects of CF and multiform NiO nanowalls on the thermal properties of OD PCMs were also investigated. NiO@CF not only maintains the porous 3D network structure of CF, but also effectively prevents the aggregation of NiO nanosheets. The chemical structures of NiO@CF/OD CPCMs were analyzed using XRD and FTIR spectroscopy. When combined with CF and NiO nanosheets, OD has high compatibility with NiO@CF. The thermal conductivity of NiO@CF/OD-L CPCMs was 1.12 W/m·K, which is 366.7% higher than that of OD. The improvement in thermal conductivity of CPCMs was theoretically analyzed according to the Debye model. NiO@CF/OD-L CPCMs have a photothermal conversion efficiency up to 77.6%. This article provided a theoretical basis for the optimal design and performance prediction of thermal storage materials and systems.

Melamine-crosslinked polyimide (MPI) aerogels are promising for diverse applications owing to their economical cost and impressive performance. However, MPI aerogels tend to suffer severe shrink in the processes of preparation and practical applications. Their upgrades, i.e., carbon foam-reinforced polyimide (CF-PI) aerogel composites, therefore were proposed in this study, to address this issue. The structure, thermal insulation of the resultant composites as well as their mechanical strength were characterized. The CF-PI aerogel composites were observed to have low shrinkage (as low as 9.25 vol.%) and low thermal conductivity (21 mW m−1 k−1–34 mW m−1 k−1), indicative of significantly improved shape stability and exceptional thermal insulation capability. Besides, these aerogel composites also performed well in thermal stability, and did not decompose unless the temperature exceeds 400 °C. All these advantages contribute to the broad application prospects of thus aerogel composites in many aspects, such as thermal insulation for high temperatures, and so on. Highlights: The carbon foam-reinforced polyimide (CF-PI) aerogel composites have low shrinkage (as low as 9.25 vol.%). The CF-PI aerogel composites have low thermal conductivity (21 mW m−1 k−1–34 mW m−1 k−1). These aerogel composites also performed well in thermal stability, and did not decompose unless the temperature exceeds 400 °C. Since the foam for reinforcement is three-dimensional and can be cut into any shape as desired, the advantages of these CF-PI aerogel composites not only have shape stability, but also can be customized into specific shapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Developing high-efficiency and easy machining components, as well as high-performance energy storage components, is a pressing issue on the road to economic and social progress. Optimizing the interface compatibility between composites and promoting the efficient utilization of the electrochemical active sites are crucial factors in improving the electrochemical performance of composite electrode materials. To address this challenge, a carbon-based flexible lithium-ion supercapacitor positive material (Polyaniline @ Carbon Foam-Supercritical carbon dioxide (P@C-SC)) is synthesized using commercial melamine foam and aniline monomer. The synthesis process utilizes supercritical fluid technology, effectively solving the interface compatibility problem between the composite materials. Consequently, the electrochemical performance of the composite electrode materials is significantly improved. The supercapacitive properties of this material are investigated in 1 mol/L sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4) and lithium sulfate (Li 2 SO 4) electrolytes using a three-electrode system. In H 2 SO 4 electrolyte, the material exhibits a working voltage of up to 2.2 V and a specific capacitance of 898F/g (at 1 A/g), resulting in a maximum energy density of 50.8 Wh kg−1. Furthermore, this electrode demonstrates superior lithium storage performance, with a specific capacity of approximately 900 mAh/g (at 1 A/g) and a retention of about 400 mAh/g after 200 cycles, along with a coulomb efficiency of 100%. This work offers insights into the integrated design of composite materials with improved electrochemical properties and interface compatibility, thus providing potential applicability of supercritical fluids in the field of lithium-ion supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melamine foam (MF), a promising development in light materials, finds application in construction, agriculture, aviation, transportation, electronic message, and other fields due to its excellent thermal insulation performance, sound absorption and noise reduction capabilities, safety and health benefits, as well as easy processing. However, its own shortcomings such as hardness, poor toughness, fragility, and slag removal greatly limit its application scope. In this review, a survey of the literature from two aspects of toughening of melamine resin and regulation of MF pore structure are reviewed to explore the research progress of toughening modification of MF. The principle, merit, and demerit of different modification methods are analyzed. In addition, owing to the extensive literature available, this article also summarizes the representative achievements of the nanotechnology modification of MF derivatives (carbon foam and carbon aerogel). Eventually, based on an assessment of current application status for both MF and its derivatives while considering existing challenges in their modification processes using nanotechnology approaches, we discuss future prospects for their application.

Although pitch-derived carbon foam (CF) is not new, but the progress for enhanced thermal, mechanical, and catalytic dye degradations need to be explored. Numerous works were performed to improve the structural morphology and properties of the CFs by dispersing various additives. But mostly it was noticed that such additives enhanced one aspect of the CFs at the cost of other ones. In this work, various additive loadings of the functionalized graphene oxide (FGO), and functionalized titanium dioxide (FTiO2) were synergistically dispersed into the CF matrix via facile pyrolysis for the preparation of CF/FGO and CF/FGO + FTiO2 hybrid composites to improve the structural morphology and properties of the CFs. Functionalization of the graphene oxide (GO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) was performed for the purpose to decrease the possible aggregations, and enhancing the compatibility and interaction between the additives and the CF matrix. A total of seven CF composites including pure CF were synthesized and explored for their structural, thermal, mechanical, and catalytic dye degradation performances. The microstructural investigations revealed that cellular morphology, pore size, shape, and porous homogeneity of the CF composites were significantly improved after the FGO and FTiO2 loadings. The thermal and mechanical behaviors revealed that as the additives loading of the FGO and FTiO2 are increased, the thermal and mechanical responses of the CF composites are significantly improved. The maximum thermal conductivity of 27.9 W/m K was revealed by 4wt.% CF/FGO + FTiO2 hybrid composite. Similarly, the optimum compressive strength of 15.7 MPa, specific compressive strength of 3.5 10 m3, excellent stress–strain, and improved Young's modulus of 42.2 MPa was shown by 4wt.% FGO + FTiO2 hybrid composite. The catalytic activity was evaluated by degrading orange II dye in an aqueous medium under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The TiO2-containing composite was found to be active and the sample with 4wt.% CF/FGO + FTiO2 hybrid composite achieved a significant 78.9% degradation of the dye within just 80 min.

The preparation of high performance, low cost and recyclable adsorbents is very important to cope with the increasingly devastating water pollution. As a typical three-dimensional porous carbon material, carbon foam (CF) is expected to be a highly efficient adsorbent to wipe out organic dyes from wastewater. However, the uneven size distribution, and lack of adsorption sites signified by insufficient foaming process limit its wider application in the environmental field. Here, CF/carbon nanotubes/graphene oxide (CF/CNTs/GO) composites (adsorbents) were prepared by press-assisted foaming and carbonization methods using mesophase precursors of coal tar pitch and CNTs followed by impregnation of GO nanosheets. The results highlighted that the addition of CNTs facilitated improvement in pore distribution, porosities, and mechanical properties (20 MPa). After treating with GO nanosheets, the adsorption performances of CF/CNTs/GO adsorbents substantially improved due to the increased active sites in the CF/CNTs and the adsorption rate and capacity of methylene blue (MB) reached 73.1% and 146 mg/g respectively. Further, adsorption isotherms (Langmuir and Freundlich), thermodynamics, quasi-first order and quasi-second order kinetics and intraparticle diffusion models were employed to investigate the adsorption mechanism. This work provides a low-cost fabrication technique for the high-performance CF/CNTs/GO adsorbent and is expected to provide reference for application in the treatment of contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of dyes in effluents from textile industries has a detrimental effect on aquatic ecosystems as it hinders the process of photosynthesis by reducing the penetration of sunlight. The adsorption capacity of a carbon foam-based iron oxide sorbent obtained from natural sources for the removal of organic methylene blue (MB) dye from water was investigated. The adsorption capacities were examined by batch experiments, wherein the impacts of varying iron content, sorbent dosage, contact time, dye concentration, and characterization were assessed. The physical characteristics and surface morphology of the synthesized carbon foam were also investigated. The carbon precursor and iron oxide precursor were coalesced within a singular container and subjected to carbonization process. This resulted in the formation of a porous structure that is capable of effectively providing support to the iron oxide particles. The carbon foam produced is a self-assembled formation that possesses the characteristic shape and underlying network structure reminiscent of bread. As the number of nanoparticles went up, so did the number of active sites. At elevated temperatures, the interactions between the dye molecules were enhanced, resulting in a more efficient process of dye removal. The magnetite sample exhibited endothermic adsorption, and all other samples exhibited exothermic adsorption. The adsorption of MB onto iron supported by carbon foam did not exhibit intraparticle diffusion as the only rate-limiting step for all samples. The adsorption rate was governed by a multistep elementary reaction mechanism in which multiple processes occurred simultaneously. The experimental data in this study may be accurately modeled by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 > 0.96). Additionally, the Freundlich isotherm best describes the adsorption equilibrium, which is supported by the outstanding fit of data to the model (R2 > 0.999). The findings suggest that the utilization of a natural carbon foam as a support for an immobilized iron oxide sorbent demonstrates considerable effectiveness in the removal of methylene dye from industrial effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creating porous structures and gradient structures are two commonly used design strategies for terahertz (THz) absorption enhancement. However, the synergistic effect of porous structure and gradient structure on THz absorption still remains less explored. Here, we took an almost non-conductive porous carbon foam as raw material, and fabricated an integrated gradient porous carbon foam (PCF) by microwave selective sintering. The experimental results show that the synergistic effect of the porous and gradient structures resulted in a 140% improvement in THz absorption performance. Specifically, an excellent average absorption intensity of −38.8 dB (absorptivity is about 99.99%) is obtained in the frequency range from 0.5 to 4.0 THz. COMSOL simulation and transmission line model were applied to explore the formation mechanism and the gradient loss capabilities of gradient structure. This work not only reveals the synergistic enhancement mechanism of porous and gradient structures for the THz absorption, but also provides new insights into the design of high-performance THz absorbers in the future.

Catalytic activity of a palladium catalyst with a porous carbon support was prepared and tested for benzophenone hydrogenation. The selectivity and yields toward the two possible reaction products (benzhydrol and diphenylmethane) can be directed by the applied solvent. It was found that in isopropanol, the prepared support was selective towards diphenylmethane with high conversion (99% selectivity and 99% benzophenone conversion on 323 K after 240 min). This selectivity might be explained by the presence of the incorporated structural nitrogens in the support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional microwave absorbing materials with properties of high absorbing performance, infrared stealth, thermal insulation are urgently required to cope with current complex and extreme electromagnetic environment. To solve this problem, a three-dimensional carbon foam (CF) was used as a matrix, and Fe/C nanocubes derived from Prussian Blue (PB) were uniformly distributed throughout the CF skeleton. Such design of Fe/C/CF porous structures enhanced the synergistic effects between dielectric and magnetic loss to reach a better absorbing performance. The minimum reflection loss (RL) of hybrid foam is −66.7 dB, and the widest effective absorbing bandwidth (EAB, RL < −10dB) is 6.34 GHz. Moreover, the hybrid foam showed remarkable infrared stealth and thermal insulation properties. The surface temperature of hybrid foam almost unchanged while it was heated under 100 °C for more than 1 h. It is noteworthy that the preparation process of hybrid foam was a facile, recycled, and low-cost strategy for achieving high-performance absorbing materials. Besides, the mentioned methods may provide inspirations for the preparation of high-performance microwave absorbing materials and increase the potential application fields in complex actual scenarios. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the possibilities to produce new materials, starting from Moroccan oil shales, for different applications. More specifically, the authors aimed to demonstrate that the organic fraction of the oil shales could be used as a precursor of carbon foams and graphitizable carbons, after appropriate chemical treatments resulting in the âmaturationâ of this organic phase. First, the researchers studied the optimization of experimental conditions and the identification of various parameters influencing the yield and composition of oils obtained by the supercritical extraction of Moroccan oil shale. The effect of various experimental parameters, such as mineral matter, thermal treatment temperature (T), treatment duration (t) and solvent type, was studied. The experimental results obtained show clearly that the organic matter contained in the Moroccan Tarfaya oil shale (sub-layer R3 ) can be recovered by phenol under the following optimal conditions: T = 390 °C, t = 2.5 hours using phenol as a solvent with an amount of 15 g for each 10 g of sub-layer R3 carbonate-free oil shale (RH). The results reveal that the yield and composition of the oil obtained by extraction with phenol is markedly different from those obtained by extraction with toluene, quinoline or without solvent. Furthermore, the phenol has a very signiï¬cant role in increasing the recovery yield and the degree of maturation of the obtained oil. It was shown that phenol was a suitable extraction solvent to produce graphitizable carbon at a relatively low temperature, below 1800 °C.

Carbon foam catalysts (CF1, CF2, CF3) were prepared by spontaneous foaming method using Liulin coal (LL) as raw materials, and the pyrolysis experiments of Xinjiang Naomaohu long-flame coal (NMH) and Inner Mongolia Shengli lignite coal (SL) were performed by Py-GC/MS at 700 ℃. The effects of carbon foam catalysts with different pore structure on the distribution of gaseous tar products were investigated. The results show that compared with normal semicoke catalyst (SC), carbon foam catalysts have more significant advantages in improving the quality of tar from coal pyrolysis. The catalytic performance of carbon foam catalysts is closely related to its pore structure and chemical character. After the action of CF1, the total amount of tar during pyrolysis of NMH and SL is significantly increased (the increase rates are 10.26% and 31.31%, respectively), which is related to its suitable specific surface area (281.14 m2/g), rich micropore structure (microporous area accounts for 88.96% of the total specific surface area), and appropriate reactivity. CF2 and CF3 with rich hierarchical pore structure and higher reactivity make the total amount of NMH and SL tar decrease. In addition, the relative content of light aromatic hydrocarbons in gaseous tar of coal pyrolysis increases and the relative content of compounds containing O, N and S decreases by CF catalysts. These results indicate that these CF catalysts can significantly promote catalytic cracking, deoxidation, aromatization, and other reactions during the pyrolysis of NMH and SL, and can directionally control the distribution of gaseous tar from coal pyrolysis.

Phase Change Materials (PCMs) has gained considerable interest for storing thermal energy originating from the solar irradiation, industrial waste heat and surplus heat. Here, we present the facile and scalable synthesis of PCM-carbon foam composites by using polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam derived carbon foam as porous support. The unique 3D molecular configuration of the carbon foam materials embedded the composites with high PCM loading capacity, excellent shape stabilization and thermal reliability and chemical stability. The carbon foams prepared by facile chemical activation method with high surface area up to 1968 m2/g exhibit high PCM loading capacity of up to 90.8 wt% and excellent energy storage capacity of up to 105.2 J/g. Advanced characterization demonstrated that the total pore volume of carbon foam governs the PCM loading capacity as well as the energy storage performance of the composites. This work provides a potential pathway to recycle PIR foams, which have been widely used in construction industry, by producing cost-effective PCM composites for thermal energy storage.

This work presents the results of a tribological examination of polymer matrix composites reinforced with carbon foams with different porosity. The application of open-celled carbon foams allows an easy infiltration process by liquid epoxy resin. At the same time, carbon reinforcement remains its initial structure, which prevents its segregation in polymer matrix. Dry friction tests, conducted under 0.7, 2.1, 3.5 and 5.0 MPa loads, show that higher friction load results in higher mass loss, but it strongly lowers the coefficient of friction (COF). The change in coefficient of friction is related to the size of the pores of the carbon foam. Open-celled foams with pores size below 0.6 mm (40 and 60 ppi), used as a reinforcement in epoxy matrix, allow to obtain COF twice lower than composite reinforced with 20 ppi open-celled foam. This phenomenon occurs due to a change of friction mechanisms. In composites reinforced with open-celled foams, general wear mechanism is related to destruction of carbon components, which results in solid tribofilm formation. The application of novel reinforcement, in the form of open-celled foams with stable distance between carbon components, allows the decrease of COF and the improvement of stability, even under a very high friction load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) are one of the most promising large-scale energy storage devices due to the excellent characteristics of zinc metal anode, including high theoretical capacity, high safety and low cost. Nevertheless, the large-scale applications of AZIBs are mainly limited by uncontrollable Zn deposition and notorious Zn dendritic growth, resulting in low plating/stripping coulombic efficiency and unsatisfactory cyclic stability. To address these issues, herein, a carbon foam (CF) was fabricated via melamine-foam carbonization as a scaffold for a dendrite-free and stable Zn anode. Results showed that the abundant zincophilicity functional groups and conductive three-dimensional network of this carbon foam could effectively regulate Zn deposition and alleviate the Zn anode's volume expansion during cycling. Consequently, the symmetric cell with CF@Zn electrode exhibited lower voltage hysteresis (32.4 mV) and longer cycling performance (750 h) than the pure Zn symmetric cell at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. Furthermore, the full battery coupling CF@Zn anode with MnO2 cathode can exhibit a higher initial capacity and better cyclic performance than the one with the bare Zn anode. This work brings a new idea for the design of three-dimensional (3D) current collectors for stable zinc metal anode toward high-performance AZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential use of magnetic nanopowder for phenol adsorption mobilised on natural grain carbon foam from an aqueous solution was studied. Phenolic compounds are priority pollutants with high toxicity even at low concentrations. A magnetic nanopowder was synthesised by dissolving an iron sponge in nitric acid to produce iron nitrate, which was added to a natural grain mixture with flour as the main ingredient. The synthesised carbon foam was investigated for the effects of initial concentration, time, and TEM (transmission electron microscopy) characterisation. The phenol adsorption increased as the iron content of the carbon foam and the initial concentration increased. A kinetic study showed that the phenol adsorption data adequately covered all the carbon foam samples tested using an equation corresponding to a pseudo-first order chemical reaction. The Freundlich, Langmuir, and Temkin equations were tested for modelling the adsorption isotherms at equilibrium, and it was concluded that the Temkin model fit the experimental data adequately. Due to its exceptional physical and chemical properties, carbon magnetic nanopowder is regarded as an outstanding pollutant absorber in environmental investigations. R2 values derived from the pseudo-first-order model exceed 0.99. R2 > 0.94 indicates that the Freundlich isotherm provides the best fit to the equilibrium data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the possibilities to produce new materials, starting from Moroccan oil shales, for different applications. More specifically, the authors aimed to demonstrate that the organic fraction of the oil shales could be used as a precursor of carbon foams and graphitizable carbons, after appropriate chemical treatments resulting in the “maturation” of this organic phase. First, the researchers studied the optimization of experimental conditions and the identification of various parameters influencing the yield and composition of oils obtained by the supercritical extraction of Moroccan oil shale. The effect of various experimental parameters, such as mineral matter, thermal treatment temperature (T), treatment duration (t) and solvent type, was studied. The experimental results obtained show clearly that the organic matter contained in the Moroccan Tarfaya oil shale (sub-layer R3 ) can be recovered by phenol under the following optimal conditions: T = 390 °C, t = 2.5 hours using phenol as a solvent with an amount of 15 g for each 10 g of sub-layer R3 carbonate-free oil shale (RH). The results reveal that the yield and composition of the oil obtained by extraction with phenol is markedly different from those obtained by extraction with toluene, quinoline or withoutsolvent. Furthermore, the phenol has a very significant role in increasing the recovery yield and the degree of maturation of the obtained oil. It was shown that phenol was a suitable extraction solvent to produce graphitizable carbon at a relatively low temperature, below 1800 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon foam, an extremely attractive new material type for important fields of application, with low density (0.28 g cm-3 ), low thermal conductivity (0.110 W m-1 K-1 ), relatively high compressive strength (3.5 MPa), high electrical conductivity (29.8 S m-1 ), and very high electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (46 dB) was experimentally made using recycled wood biomass from industrial wood processing and aqueous solution of sucrose. The carbonization was performed by heating at 750 ºC through microwave irradiation technique, the pressed and dried material in the intermediate state being introduced into a SiC crucible with a lid, thermally protected with ceramic fiber, without inert medium. The specific energy consumption was very low (0.785 kWh/kg), unlike the high energy consumption of the usually carbonization stages. The optimal carbon foam specimen was considered suitable for the special application fields (military, aeronautics, construction, transport). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and fabrication of stable, high-performance, and affordable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is essential for performing practical water electrolysis and generating green hydrogen energy. Here, we report that 2D few layer Ni 3 Fe nanosheets embedded with 2D porous nitrogen doped carbon (N-Ni x Fe@CF) from asphalt waste and then convolved and assembled into 1D hollow nanotube structures by Lewis acid molten salt etching method, which were used as electrocatalysts for OER. Benefiting from the integrate of 1D hollow nanotube structure and 2D porous nanosheets, the close contact between catalysts and support, and the increased conductivity, the resultant N-Ni 3 Fe@CF catalysts exhibited high catalytic activities in the OER with low overpotential at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 (114 mV), low Tafel slope (166.6 mV dec−1), and excellent electrochemical stability. This work provides a new concept for expanding the use of asphalt wastes and by-products, as well as a straightforward synthesis method for producing economical, efficient, and long-lasting alkaline OER electrocatalysts. • A 1D hollow nanotube shape N-Ni x Fe@CF was prepared by Lewis acid molten salt etching method. • The N-Ni x Fe@CF exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction. • It outperforms commercial noble metal-based catalyst of RuO 2 and most catalysts reported so far. • The outstanding OER activity is ascribed to the novel synthetic process and porous structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass production of food waste (FW) has a terrible impact on the environment, but with proper treatment, FW can be transformed into a new resource. Currently, thermal conversion (especially incineration) has been the most common and efficient means of handling FW, but it also entails negative impacts, such as high carbon emissions and lower added value. In this study, a new high-efficiency thermal conversion process is proposed that uses carbon foams to induce the formation of microwave plasma (MP), which generates very high final temperatures to enable the direct conversion of FW into combustible gases and high-value-added heteroatom-doped microwave plasma graphene (HMPG) in 5–20 s. This work investigated the optimal carbonization temperature of the melamine sponge (carbon foam precursor) and the effect of microwave plasma reaction duration on the distribution of the gas products and the properties of HMPG, and HMPG was characterized in detail by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, etc. Ultimately, HMPG was tested in potassium ion battery anodes for evaluation of its energy storage potential, and the results showed that the capacities were able to reach ∼270 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1 after 60 cycles. [Display omitted] • An efficient method for converting food waste thermally is proposed: the sandwich-type carbon foam microwave plasma method. • Food waste can be efficiently converted into combustible gases (59.08 wt%) and heteroatom-doped graphene (17.93 wt%). • The graphene materials,tested as anodes in potassium-ion batteries, achieved ∼270 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g–1 after 60 cycles. • This work offers a potential solution for converting food waste into high-value-added products simply and effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of dyes in effluents from textile industries has a detrimental effect on aquatic ecosystems as it hinders the process of photosynthesis by reducing the penetration of sunlight. The adsorption capacity of a carbon foam-based iron oxide sorbent obtained from natural sources for the removal of organic methylene blue (MB) dye from water was investigated. The adsorption capacities were examined by batch experiments, wherein the impacts of varying iron content, sorbent dosage, contact time, dye concentration, and characterization were assessed. The physical characteristics and surface morphology of the synthesized carbon foam were also investigated. The carbon precursor and iron oxide precursor were coalesced within a singular container and subjected to carbonization process. This resulted in the formation of a porous structure that is capable of effectively providing support to the iron oxide particles. The carbon foam produced is a self-assembled formation that possesses the characteristic shape and underlying network structure reminiscent of bread. As the number of nanoparticles went up, so did the number of active sites. At elevated temperatures, the interactions between the dye molecules were enhanced, resulting in a more efficient process of dye removal. The magnetite sample exhibited endothermic adsorption, and all other samples exhibited exothermic adsorption. The adsorption of MB onto iron supported by carbon foam did not exhibit intraparticle diffusion as the only rate-limiting step for all samples. The adsorption rate was governed by a multistep elementary reaction mechanism in which multiple processes occurred simultaneously. The experimental data in this study may be accurately modeled by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 > 0.96). Additionally, the Freundlich isotherm best describes the adsorption equilibrium, which is supported by the outstanding fit of data to the model (R2 > 0.999). The findings suggest that the utilization of a natural carbon foam as a support for an immobilized iron oxide sorbent demonstrates considerable effectiveness in the removal of methylene dye from industrial effluent.

Carbon foam, an extremely attractive new material type for important fields of application, with low density (0.28 g cm-3), low thermal conductivity (0.110 W m-1 K-1), relatively high compressive strength (3.5 MPa), high electrical conductivity (29.8 S m-1), and very high electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (46 dB) was experimentally made using recycled wood biomass from industrial wood processing and aqueous solution of sucrose. The carbonization was performed by heating at 750 ºC through microwave irradiation technique, the pressed and dried material in the intermediate state being introduced into a SiC crucible with a lid, thermally protected with ceramic fiber, without inert medium. The specific energy consumption was very low (0.785 kWh/kg), unlike the high energy consumption of the usually carbonization stages. The optimal carbon foam specimen was considered suitable for the special application fields (military, aeronautics, construction, transport).

Solar evaporation is recognized as a prospective technique to produce freshwater from non‐drinkable water using inexhaustible solar energy. However, it remains a challenge to fabricate low‐cost solar evaporators with obviously reduced water evaporation enthalpy to achieve high evaporation rates. Herein, N,O dual‐doped carbon foam (NCF) is fabricated from the low‐temperature carbonization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste by melamine/molten salts at 340 °C. During carbonization, melamine reacts with carboxylic acids of PET degradation products to yield a crosslinking network, and then molten salts catalyze the decarboxylation and dehydration to construct a stable framework. Owing to rich N,O‐containing groups, 3D interconnected pores, super‐hydrophilicity, and ultra‐low thermal conductivity (0.0599 W m−1 K−1), NCF not only achieves high light absorbance (ca. 99%) and solar‐to‐thermal conversion, but also promotes the formation of water cluster to reduce water evaporation enthalpy by ca. 37%. Consequently, NCF exhibits a high evaporation rate (2.4 kg m−2 h−1), surpassing the‐state‐of‐the‐art solar evaporators, and presents good anti‐acid/basic abilities, long‐term salt‐resistance, and self‐cleaning ability. Importantly, a large‐scale NCF‐based outdoor solar desalination device is developed to produce freshwater. The daily freshwater production amount per unit area (6.3 kg) meets the two adults' daily water consumption. The trash‐to‐treasure strategy will give impetus to the development of low‐cost, advanced solar evaporators from waste plastics for addressing the global freshwater shortage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic activity of a palladium catalyst with a porous carbon support was prepared and tested for benzophenone hydrogenation. The selectivity and yields toward the two possible reaction products (benzhydrol and diphenylmethane) can be directed by the applied solvent. It was found that in isopropanol, the prepared support was selective towards diphenylmethane with high conversion (99% selectivity and 99% benzophenone conversion on 323 K after 240 min). This selectivity might be explained by the presence of the incorporated structural nitrogens in the support.

In the present paper, the performance of carbon foams to adsorb CO2 in post-combustion conditions using a thermo-gravimetric analyzer was investigated. Two types of carbon foams were prepared in this study from molten sucrose and activated carbon powder as foaming and foam setting agents by adding or not of nitric acid. Both carbon foams were subjected to chemical and textural characterization such as FT-IR, Boehm titration, SEM and physical adsorption. Then, these materials were evaluated for CO2 adsorption in a binary mixture (10% CO2 + 90% N2), representative of post-combustion conditions, at two temperatures 25 and 50 °C. The obtained carbon foams present a hierarchical macro–micro pore structure with narrow-micropores in the cell walls and micropores sizes of less than 0.6 nm. The produced adsorbent materials showed a high and competitive CO2 uptake in pure flow at 0 °C with a CO2 adsorption capacity of up to 3 mmol g−1. In addition, carbon foams adsorbents showed high CO2/N2 selectivity in binary (CO2 + N2) adsorption/desorption tests thanks to their very narrow microporosity not accessible for N2 molecules but accessible to CO2. Thus, biomass-based carbon foams are promising candidates to selectively capture CO2 in post-combustion conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Lightweight carbon foam bulk with controllable graphitization degree were prepared. • The regulation of dielectric loss based on the graphitization degree was proposed. • The EAB of 3.63 GHz, EMI SE of 35.13 dB, and strength of 11.73 MPa were achieved. • The interfacial polarization between graphite/amorphous carbon exists in the polarization loss. The graphitization degree is of great importance for determining the electromagnetic (EM) wave attenuation loss behavior. The conductive loss is considered to be the mechanism resulting from tailoring the graphitization degree. There is a lack of in-depth research on the dipole polarization caused by defects and functional groups and the interface polarization caused by graphite/amorphous carbon. Herein, lightweight carbon foam (CF) bulk derived from mesophase pitch was prepared to clarify the effect of the graphitization degree systematically. The results demonstrate that with an increase graphitization degree, the interfacial polarization improves and dipole polarization decreases. The synergistic effect of conduction loss and dipole and interfacial polarization dominates the impedance matching and further changes the EM loss behavior of CFs. Particularly, the minimum reflection loss is − 16.69 dB and effective absorption bandwidth is 3.63 GHz, the EM interference shielding effectiveness attains 35.13 dB and the compressive strength is up to 11.73 MPa when the optimal graphitization degree is achieved. Therefore, this work elucidates the effect of the interface polarization of graphite/amorphous carbon, thus providing a valuable insight into the design of advanced carbon-based materials for EM wave absorption and shielding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic nanomaterials have been shown to be effective additives to conductive materials for enhancing electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI) shielding performance, but the comprehensive mechanism remains unknown. Herein, a 3D flexible carbon foam composite decorated with Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles was designed and constructed. The composite exhibited good flexibility and mechanical strength (approximately 45 KPa). Due to the synergistic effect of dielectric and magnetic losses, the composite delivered a shielding effectiveness (SE) of 21 dB in the X-band and a corresponding specific SE (SSE) value of 210 dB cm2/g. The transmission coefficient (T) was discovered to be as low as 0.008, indicating that the composite can successfully shield EM, while the reflection coefficient (R) was found to be higher than the absorption coefficient (A). Moreover, the complicated permittivity, permeability, and magnetism magnetization of the composite were discussed in order to better understand the origin of the composite's shielding behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A near net-shape graphitic carbon foam (GCF) with a continuous network of graphite nanosheets was prepared by direct carbonization of epoxy resin filled with nano-Al 2 O 3. The effects of carbonization temperature on the properties of the resulting carbon foams were investigated by SEM, TEM, XRD, Raman, thermal conductivity and compression strength test. The results show that the as-prepared GCF can maintain well dimensional stability upon carbonization. The carbothermal reaction between the nano-Al 2 O 3 and carbon foam matrix greatly influences the microstructure of carbon foam and promotes its growth of the continuous network of graphite nanosheets. In addition, the GCF prepared at 1700 °C possesses a compressive strength of 2.34 MPa with a bulk density of 0.19 g cm-3, and meanwhile presents a high graphitization degree of 65.12% and a thermal conductivity of 2.02 W/mK. The continuous network of graphite nanosheets favors the enhancement of thermal conductivity of carbon foam and simultaneously prevents the decline of compressive strength further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A coal-based activated carbon foam with a unique 3D porous structure was successfully prepared. • The activated carbon foam is firstly reported as a rigid free-standing electrode for SCs. • The symmetric device delivers a volume energy density of 10.23 mWh cm−3 at 31.78 mW cm−3. • The symmetric device achieves an outstanding cycling stability of 100 % after 40 000 cycles. A free-standing electrode material is a competitive candidate for supercapacitor due to its excellent capacity and volumetric energy density. Currently, most of the studies are focused on the preparations and performances of flexible free-standing electrode materials, whereas few on the development of rigid free-standing electrode materials. Herein, a vitrinite concentrate of fat coal is used as a raw material and carbon black as an addition agent to prepare a carbon foam by way of high-pressure pyrolysis. The prepared carbon foam is activated by KOH solution to further achieve an activated carbon foam by which we have fabricated a rigid free-standing electrode material. The assembled symmetric device with the rigid free-standing electrode material demonstrates an extremely high areal specific capacitance of 2304.41 mF cm−2 at 4 mA cm−2, an outstanding cycling stability of 100 % after 40 000 cycles, and an excellent volume energy density of 10.23 mWh cm−3 at 31.78 mW cm−3. These fascinating electrochemical performances of the electrode material are attributed to unique 3D interconnected porous structure of the activated carbon foam. The micron-sized 3D interconnected pores facilitate the transport of electrolyte ions within the electrodes. Meanwhile, micropores on the 3D interconnected pore wall provide abundant active sites for electrolyte ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, oil spills and industrial organic pollutants have caused irreparable damage to the environment and biological ecosystems. Therefore, the treatment of oily wastewater has become a serious global challenge. Here, the ultra-light, robustly strength and superhydrophobic AC/C/SiO2 aerogel are fabricated by simple two-step method. Due to the introduction of high-strength carbon foam, the originally brittle aerogel exhibits excellent mechanical properties (compressive strength up to 1.6 MPa) and ultra-low density (19 mg cm−3). Remarkably, the AC/C/SiO2 sample maintains a integrate block structure without any damage or crack under large compression strain (up to 80%). In addition, the aerogel with large water contact angle of 153° and show excellent absorption for oil (39.13 g g−1). Therefore, these excellent characteristics make the as-prepared aerogel promising absorbents for water depollution: oil-spill clean-ups or removal of oils and organic solvents from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a novel kind of carbon foam composites reinforced by chopped glass fibers. Microstructure, mechanical properties and thermal insulation of the composites have been investigated by scanning electron microscopy, universal testing machine and laser thermal constant analyzer, respectively. Results showed that carbon foam composites had a spherical and closed-cell structure; chopped glass fibers were uniformly distributed in the carbon matrix along different directions. The mechanical properties exhibited optimum with the 7% glass fiber additives, 11.27 MPa of shear strength, higher than that of pure carbon foams by as much as 111%. Compressive and shear fracture were both characterized by gradient brittleness. Many tiny open-pores existed in carbon foams with a certain amount of glass fiber additives, giving rise to the higher thermal conductivity. Nevertheless, carbon foam composites possessed good thermal insulation, 0.311 W·m−1·K−1 at room temperature, and 1.04 W·m−1·K−1 in 800 °C at the most. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon foam is a sophisticated porous material with wide applications that depend on its structure, low density, thermal conductivity and electrical characteristics. This study deals with the preparation of carbon foam by the thermo-oxidative modification with HNO3 of mixtures containing different organic materials with appropriate chemical characteristics—furfural and tar pitch derived from RDF. Carbon foam is characterized by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, elemental analysis, Raman spectroscopy, N2 sorption, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron spectroscopy. The investigation of adsorption activity of carbon foam towards nickel (II) in water solution is carried out. Experimental results fit very well with the Langmuir adsorption model. The carbon foam, obtained from tar pitch derived from RDF and furfural, shows a high adsorption capacity towards nickel ions (203.67 mg/g). The high adsorption capacity could be explained by the properties of the adsorbent—moderately high surface area, micro-mesoporous texture and presence of oxygen-containing surface groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A coupled Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MEC) – Anaerobic Granular Sludge (AGS) system was settled to investigate for the first time the ability of various carbon-based electrodes to enhance biodegradation of real bilge water (BW) and increase methane generation as an emerging technology for converting organic matter into value-added products. Results revealed that the performance of the three types of electrodes named carbon foam (CF), carbon cloth (CC) and three-dimensional graphene foam (3DG), was both time and organic load content dependent during the experimental cycles. Cumulative CH4 generation reached 235 mL in just 13 days after feeding the AGS with 50% of BW and application of 1.0 V at 3DG electrodes, followed by CC electrodes (148.3 mL). CF proved to be more resistant in higher BW concentration showing a sufficient performance of 1 month. However, in the third cycle, the performances of MECs containing 3DG and CC were higher compared to the CF and the control. Over the first cycle, the soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand (sCOD) removal was found to be around 70% to all MECs, and this value was around 10% higher than the control. Among the different Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs), acetic acid was identified in the highest concentration in the first cycle, whereas propionic acid was detected in the second and third cycles. Microbial profile analysis showed that Methanobacterium and Desulfovibrio had substantially higher abundances in the cathodes than in the suspended anaerobic sludge. An X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigation of the used electrodes pointed out the formation of various crystalline compounds on their surface, which were different for the anode and cathode.

CoN nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes hybrid supported on carbon foam (INPs-CoN/CNTs-CF) electrocatalyst was synthesized by one-step pyrolysis of irregular nanoparticles ZIF-67 (ZIF-67-INPs) with melamine foam. The INPs-CoN/CNTs-CF electrocatalyst exhibited remarkable activity for ORR with a high half-wave potential of 0.862 V vs. RHE, and a good HER electrocatalytic activity with overpotential of 180 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 102.5 mV dec−1. This electrocatalyst can be a promising bifunctional alternative for both ORR and HER. This work provides a new insight for the design of new-type multi-functional electrocatalysts for practical applications.

Grafting one-dimensional (1D) structure onto three-dimensional (3D) carbon foam is a practical and novel protocol to improve its microwave attenuation capability. Herein, a unique microwave absorber with NiCo 2 O 4 nanoneedle grew on carbon foam (NCOCF) has been built via a combined approach of carbonization and hydrothermal treatment. The obtained NCOCF exhibit good impedance matching and excellent attenuation capability, which means that the microwave energy can be dissipated through conductive loss, interfacial polarization and multiple-scattering. These advantages result in the effective transformation of microwave energy to heat, thus yielding a remarkable microwave adsorption (with a thickness of 2.8 mm, the maximum reflection loss (RL max) is −63.6 dB, and the effective absorption bandwidth (E AB) is as wide as 4.72 GHz with a thickness of 1.3 mm). The study would offer a strategy for development of the high-performance microwave absorber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reported synthesis of carbon foam from lignin–resorcinol–glyoxal (LRG) resin as carbon source and polyurethane (PU) foam as sacrificial template for effective removal of oils and organic solvents from water. The carbon foam with large surface area and high porosity was fabricated by carbonization of resin impregnated PU foam. The carbon foam can effectively absorb various oil or organic solvents from the aqueous media due to hydrophobic nature. Also, it can be recycled by completely burning the oil or organic solvents without destroying the foam structure. The carbon foam with high absorption capacity and good recyclability properties in the present work suggests promising applications in removal of oils and organic solvent spill from water.

This work presents the results of a tribological examination of polymer matrix composites reinforced with carbon foams with different porosity. The application of open-celled carbon foams allows an easy infiltration process by liquid epoxy resin. At the same time, carbon reinforcement remains its initial structure, which prevents its segregation in polymer matrix. Dry friction tests, conducted under 0.7, 2.1, 3.5 and 5.0 MPa loads, show that higher friction load results in higher mass loss, but it strongly lowers the coefficient of friction (COF). The change in coefficient of friction is related to the size of the pores of the carbon foam. Open-celled foams with pores size below 0.6 mm (40 and 60 ppi), used as a reinforcement in epoxy matrix, allow to obtain COF twice lower than composite reinforced with 20 ppi open-celled foam. This phenomenon occurs due to a change of friction mechanisms. In composites reinforced with open-celled foams, general wear mechanism is related to destruction of carbon components, which results in solid tribofilm formation. The application of novel reinforcement, in the form of open-celled foams with stable distance between carbon components, allows the decrease of COF and the improvement of stability, even under a very high friction load.

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) are one of the most promising large-scale energy storage devices due to the excellent characteristics of zinc metal anode, including high theoretical capacity, high safety and low cost. Nevertheless, the large-scale applications of AZIBs are mainly limited by uncontrollable Zn deposition and notorious Zn dendritic growth, resulting in low plating/stripping coulombic efficiency and unsatisfactory cyclic stability. To address these issues, herein, a carbon foam (CF) was fabricated via melamine-foam carbonization as a scaffold for a dendrite-free and stable Zn anode. Results showed that the abundant zincophilicity functional groups and conductive three-dimensional network of this carbon foam could effectively regulate Zn deposition and alleviate the Zn anode’s volume expansion during cycling. Consequently, the symmetric cell with CF@Zn electrode exhibited lower voltage hysteresis (32.4 mV) and longer cycling performance (750 h) than the pure Zn symmetric cell at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. Furthermore, the full battery coupling CF@Zn anode with MnO2 cathode can exhibit a higher initial capacity and better cyclic performance than the one with the bare Zn anode. This work brings a new idea for the design of three-dimensional (3D) current collectors for stable zinc metal anode toward high-performance AZIBs.

The potential use of magnetic nanopowder for phenol adsorption mobilised on natural grain carbon foam from an aqueous solution was studied. Phenolic compounds are priority pollutants with high toxicity even at low concentrations. A magnetic nanopowder was synthesised by dissolving an iron sponge in nitric acid to produce iron nitrate, which was added to a natural grain mixture with flour as the main ingredient. The synthesised carbon foam was investigated for the effects of initial concentration, time, and TEM (transmission electron microscopy) characterisation. The phenol adsorption increased as the iron content of the carbon foam and the initial concentration increased. A kinetic study showed that the phenol adsorption data adequately covered all the carbon foam samples tested using an equation corresponding to a pseudo-first order chemical reaction. The Freundlich, Langmuir, and Temkin equations were tested for modelling the adsorption isotherms at equilibrium, and it was concluded that the Temkin model fit the experimental data adequately. Due to its exceptional physical and chemical properties, carbon magnetic nanopowder is regarded as an outstanding pollutant absorber in environmental investigations. R2 values derived from the pseudo-first-order model exceed 0.99. R2 > 0.94 indicates that the Freundlich isotherm provides the best fit to the equilibrium data.